EXCLUSIVE: As the traditional broadcast pitch season is winding down, one of the most talked-about projects has hit the broadcast/cable marketplace. Star-producer Charlie Sheen has been out in full force pitching his new series Anger Management along with producer Lionsgate TV and distributor Debmar-Mercury over the past two weeks. There has been a healthy level of interest in the project, with a number of networks taking the pitch. I’ve learned that the list included broadcasters NBC, Fox and ABC as well as cable networks FX, USA Network, Comedy Central and TV Land and streaming company Netflix. I hear Sheen was present at all the meetings, which were held on both the East and West coasts. “It was a great pitch, very polished,” a person who has seen the presentation said, with Sheen described as “very buttoned up and passionate.” What is being pitched is a series version of the 2003 Jack Nicholson-Adam Sandler movie Anger Management about a mild-mannered man (Sandler) ordered to attend group anger-management sessions led by a volatile therapist (Nicholson), with Sheen playing a version of Nicholson’s character and The Drew Carey Show creator Bruce Helford writing/executive producing.

Word is cable networks FX, USA, Comedy Central or sibling TV Land are a possibility, along with Netflix. Getting meetings with broadcast networks was a coup for the producers, but they were always considered a long shot because of the type of deal Debmar-Mercury is seeking for the series: a trial 10-episode run that, if ratings guarantees are met, triggers a 90-episode pickup. (According to sources, the sizes of the orders in the two stages are not set in stone and Debmar-Mercury may be open to tweaking them, but the commitment is expected to remain very significant, especially for a broadcast network.) There had been talk about Fox possibly teaming with FX and NBC with sibling USA for such an arrangement, but that appears highly unlikely. The only pairing that seems possible is one between Comedy Central and TV Land, both part of MTV Networks Entertainment Group headed by Doug Herzog. Comedy Central, of course, has an in with Sheen as it did the Roast Of Charlie Sheen last month. Given its success, Comedy Central seems like a natural home for Anger Management — though, according to an industry source, Herzog had been joking privately that he wants the bad Charlie Sheen, not the nice one, a reference to Sheen’s recent image rehabilitation as he dropped the rants of warlocks and tiger blood, adopted a conciliatory tone towards his former employers at Two And A Half Men and settled his $100 million lawsuit against them. But while bad boy Charlie Sheen has entertainment value, even cleaned-up Charlie Sheen is probably difficult to insure, and the off-the-rails one last spring is certainly impossible to.

Viacom has the advantage of two possible networks, Comedy Central and TV Land, which has been aggressive in its expansion into original comedy series. Meanwhile, USA too is making a big push in comedy and wants to have an original half-hour series on the air by the fall 2013 launch of its high-profile off-network acquisition Modern Family. (The network recently greenlighted its first half-hour pilots.) FX too has been active in comedy, and it is the cable home of Sheen’s previous series Two And A Half Men, which has done very well there. As expected, TBS, corporate sibling of Two And A Half Men producer Warner Bros TV, is out of the picture despite being the only network to successfully implement Debmar-Mercury’s 10-90 model with Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne and Meet The Browns and Ice Cube/Joe Roth’s Are We There Yet? Roth is also producing the Anger Management series as he produced the 2003 feature. As for Netflix, they have been on the prowl for original series, but their recent troubles stemming from a botched price increase have been a distraction.

Anything Bruce Helford is involved with will SUCK AND FAIL.
That man is responsible for ending the career of Bernie Mac.

Bitter Johnny • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Drew Carey wasn’t a failure. And what about that George Lopez show? I think Bruce is the perfect choice.

Bitter J • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

And technically speaking Bernie Mac dying probably put an end to his career. Not the one failed pilot Bruce did with him a month before his death. Duh.

777 • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Charlie Sheen should go with FOX! Because all the other networks such as CBS, ABC, NBC are always in kahuts with each other about some political issue that they have with people….they’re not professional. On the other hand FOX I think is a superior network when it comes to business, and they’re professional and they know exactly what they want….learn from your last lesson what a disaster it was and how political it was with CBS and avoid repeating the same mistake……FOX is smart business people, professional and more caring about people than other net works….Charlie Sheen should absolutely go with FOX only and avoid future drama and headaches with mean spirited people like last time….his show is going to be a hit:) trust me! FOX Charlie! Good luck!

Rach • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

do you work for FOX ‘par hasard’ ? Ha

amy • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

I hope for failure for anything that hopes to further the career and bank account of this idiot.

Jesse • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

If he keeps up with his current behavior, I really don’t wish any ill will for the guy. He seems to have so far learned his lesson.

petite fleur • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Bitter much ?
Sheen is a fascinating character, quite rare among ‘shallow actors’.
Of course his new show will be quite an event.

observer • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

definately the comeback of the year.

T-bone • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

I’m not interested that’s for sure.

Lucy • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Don’t worry we are MANY MANY interested so without you we cancel out your ‘opinion’..haha…with or without your ‘interest’ don’t matter.
Yeah for Anger Management !!

xolitz • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Obviously price isn’t a huge deal for Charlie since time warner will have to pay him out but the payday for this will have to be substantially lower than he has gotten in years

Hollywouldn't • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

CBS has slipped to second overall with “Two and a Half Men” down to 14.85 million viewers. CBS says “Sorry Charlie” – please come back…

Tostonesfix • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Whatever “ratings guarantees” the network agrees to should be considered on the final five telecasts of the 10 episode run instead of the whole run. No question episode one will do a monster number. Episode 2 and 3 might even be pretty good. But inevitably, the numbers will fall off a cliff like Charlie’s career when the debris from the car wreck is cleared away.

If they pay the right people enough money, they might be able to make 10 decent episodes but if it ends up going the back 90, those shows will go down in history as the worst television ever made.

Geiko • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Charlie!!!!

STOP!! Take it to Netflix!! They will air it first and you’ll own the rest of the world!!!

Aidan Williams • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

This isn’t very fair especially with the New Season of Two and a Half Men he is just making it worse for that show and i won’t be watching his new show i hope the ratings plummet.

mika • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

stick to 21/2 men then…it seems it suits you better.LOL

Juliet • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Finally some exiting news !!! We are many to looking forward to watch this new show, hope cable channels like FX or Comedy Central will make the deal, like that Bruce Helford will have more freedom for caustic, non politically correct, smart, witty writing and of course Sheen will deliver.
After that or before that Charlie come back making good movies (i am curious about the Roman Coppola film) !!

Judith • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

I am interested that’s for sure, hope it will be on cable (FX or Comedy Central would be good) for more freedom of creativity.

The Littles • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

This would be the biggest premiere since Two and a Half Men earlier this season.

NBC needs to jump on this!

Cat • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Charlie! How exciting. Have been waiting for a show with Charlie Sheen to come out. What a great idea, “Anger Management”. He is perfect for that role. NBC, ABC would be wise to pick it up. Make lots of money. Cable would give the freedom to make the show more fun.Comedy Central would be best as it gives lots of leeway (spelling, ha). He’s a talented and quick witted, funny man. Hot tooooo! He has millions, however, he can make more mega bucks with NBC or ABC. Wouldn’t THAT bug C. Lorre? Ha! Lorre made a major mistake due to ego. Ego should never get in the way of business. The logical choice is Comedy Central. Love Charlie! Who doesn’t!

J • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Wooo Go Charlie..I could see a fox or FX would be cool..Cant wait till it blows that new pathetic two & half men away…people have to realize it sucks now, why the hell are they still watching?

hope what ever network is willing to take a chance and buy the charlies new show makes sure to have certain things in place to prevent charlie from doing a repeat of his behavior that got him canned from cbs. and hope charlie relizes that what ever network takes a chance in his come back will not one be paying him what he got for two and half men and also will proably not want to put up with the same crap he pulled.wish charlie luck getting the green light.

Lys • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

The jury is back and the verdict is in – you’re a hit Charlie so go for it. Hope your Dad gets a cameo:)

mika • on Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

I don’t care who gets it as long someone that I have access to is in that position.
I cannot stop and wonder what caused Sheen’s meltdown now…hmm
Maybe he trully wanted out of Chuck’s squashing shoe…and having his private life exploited without getting enough “benefits” out of it.
Now Chuck wants to fool audiences with kutcher’s lame life…all rag mags are full now of what AK&DM did..and blah…interesting that not much was said about them before 21/2 men.
Hollywood is simply a sad place.

Nikki, I would be greatful if at least one of my posts see the ‘light of the day”
Thank you.